Florida's natural house pets (pests)!

Summer is here and so are mosquitoes! In my opinion, mosquitoes are part of life here in Florida like gators are. Due to our temperatures, I go running in the morning or at night. However, dusk and dawn are mosquitoes’ feeding times! Thankfully I am not allergic to these insects bites. However, I worry about the diseases female mosquitoes can transmit. Three viruses are typically found in Florida: West Nile virus, St. Louis encephalitis and Eastern equine encephalitis. Over their 4 – 8 weeks life span, mosquitoes can bite up to 14 times in search of blood! Advisories are issued annually in Florida! Symptoms of a mosquito-borne illness include headache, fever, fatigue, dizziness, weakness and confusion - so this is truly not a laughing matter. Hence my pondering about safe mosquito repellents for humans and nature. Known products include zappers, catchers, citronella candles, sprays, and so on. Mosquitoes have great senses and can detect you from far away! The reason chemically engineered mosquito repellents work is because they mask your body’s chemistry. DEET is recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to prevent mosquito born diseases. While DEET has been reported to be safe to use when used according to label directions, I am curious about trying homemade products from herbs and essential oils that are environmental friendlier. Thanks to Google one can find recipes in a flash! Herbal remedies work, but their effects are short lived. This weekend I plan to make my own herbal repellent with citronella, eucalyptus, lemongrass & peppermint oils. During my short runs I will apply the herbal repellent before my run, but on my long runs I will reapply every hour for best effect. If you have experimented with homemade mosquito repellents and found one recipe in particular to be helpful, please email it to me @ julie.rehbeiN@hcahealthcare.com. My skin will thank you!

Cheers,

Know safety, no injury. No safety, know injury.

June is National Safety Month. Lately when I think of safety, it deals with cooking! One of my gifts for Christmas was a fancy new knife block & a set of new knives. They look great and they feel right - but they are oh-so sharp! Since Christmas I cut myself at least three times and every time it happens, I ask myself why I didn’t pay more attention. I added to my to-do list to research knife handling skills or even knife handling classes to educate myself better. In my research about safety I learned per the National Safety Council “falls are one of the leading causes of unintentional injuries in the United States, accounting for approximately 8.6 million visits to the emergency department. Adults 55 and older are more prone to becoming victims of falls, and the resulting injuries can diminish the ability to lead active, independent lives. The number of fall deaths among those 65 or older is 4 times the number of fall deaths among all other age groups.” Interesting facts, but what really got my attention was an article by CBS News Canada that suggests knives and other sharp objects account for far more emergency room visits than guns! I was glad to learn that most unintentional home injuries do not result in death according to Home Safety Council’s study, though. Thankfully I haven’t cut myself in a while and next on my to-do list is to shop for a step stool for my kitchen – so far I tend to climb up my countertop or on better days, pull a chair to reach on top of my cabinets!!! Unbelievable, I know! Know safety, no injury. No safety, know injury - Author Unknown

Be safe!

April is Stress Awareness Month - Here's a recipe to calm you down!

When I am stressed, I find it hard not to eat! Instead of eating junk food though, I make it a point to research good foods to eat to relieve stress. My latest food addiction is Quinoa (pronounced KEEN-wah). Quinoa originated in South America & is a “grain-like crop grown primarily for its edible seeds" according to Wikipedia. Quinoa is rich in protein & fiber, and high in magnesium & iron. Gluten-free, too! It’s as easy to cook as rice & has become a regular staple in my household. My current favorite recipe for Quinoa is a tad spicy, have a look @ the recipe:

• 1 cup Quinoa


• 1 ½ Tbsp. Olive oil or any other oil of your liking


• ½ Onion, diced


• 1 Tsp. grated fresh Ginger


• ½ fresh Chili, finely chopped


• 1 Tsp. Coriander


• 1 Tsp. Turmeric


• ¼ Tsp. ground Cinnamon


• Salt to taste

I like to soak my quinoa in equal amounts of water for about 30 minutes. Rinse thoroughly thereafter. Fry onions in oil until tender (for me the softer the better I like them in this dish). Add grated ginger, chile, turmeric, coriander, cinnamon, quinoa & water. For each cup of Quinoa add 1 ½ cups of lightly salted water. Bring everything to a broil & turn down to simmer for 15 – 20 minutes. Take off heat & let rest for 5 minutes. Fork through the quinoa as you would through couscous. Season with salt if needed & enjoy! Have you cooked with quinoa before?

Be well,

How to write a really good resume

The beginning of a new year is often times a motivation for some to make a career change. The Internet offers quick ways to search for jobs & to apply directly online. A few people opt to complete online applications; others upload a copy of their resume only, and/or a mix of both. Some hesitate to act on their goals to find a new career opportunity because of the dreaded resume one has to write or update to submit to new potential employers. There are many questions to answer to draft a professional resume. To start off identify what type of job you are seeking & ask yourself if you possess the skills set to perform the job? Write your goals out as your objective. If you possess the skills, or have had high-level exposure and want to broaden or expand your skills set, be sure to highlight your experience plus any accomplishments on your resume. If you don’t possess the skills, you need to understand that you are up against stiff competition. Any other more experienced applicant will most likely be favored over you.

To highlight your experience or accomplishments you can either write them out in a list, or list them separately for every position you held in the past couple of years. Recent career history is important, but past accomplishments relevant for the position you are applying to might also play a role. Find a balance between your employment dates & accomplishments to keep the resume to a two to three page maximum. If you’ve got a long list of accomplishments to share, they might find more attention in an attachment versus on your resume where skills sets are key! List your highest level of education and don’t forget to list your current certifications!

Personal info or bios might be relevant for some industries or positions, but could be left off to discuss rather in-person & also to keep the resume short & sweet. In general the most important information on your resume is your career history & experience. Industry specific keywords will highlight your depth of knowledge; accomplishments will showcase your strengths. Don’t forget to list up to date contact info & an email address for the recruiter to contact you at. Use spell check & if you are courageous, let others read & critique your resume for additional pointers!

A really good resume is easy to read, highlights all relevant skills & lists clear objectives.

Good luck!

Cheers,

Can you hear me?!

First thing's first: Happy New Year, folks! Here's hoping 2011 is off to a wonderful start for all you. Not sure if people really pen down lists of New Year’s resolutions, but mine is very simple this year: finish all goals from 2010! For example, for the longest I wanted to research all new Smartphones & buy a new one. It sounds easy, but if you knew me, you knew that I am technically a little challenged, or let me be frank: I am just not that in to you, Mr. Technology (or is it Miss Technology?!) I love Motorola even though I shouldn’t because they are known to use conflict minerals in their phones & electronics as many other well known electronics manufactures do too unfortunately. The immense demand for electronics helps to fuel violence in places most of us will never see or visit (I hope)... I don’t know about you, but I NEED my phone. Being a woman it makes me feel safe when I am out & about, but surely it could be a false feeling... If I needed to feel safe, I should sign up with AAA & take a self-defense class to boost my self esteem, right?! Instead I do Yoga & let my AAA membership lapse. Hmmm. Okay, back to the subject. Another thing that gets to me are all these apps out there & especially their prices... However, at the same time I am very intrigued by how they can enrich your life! Take one of these numerous meal planner apps, for example! While at the grocery store you can simply add things you’d like to eat & in a blink of an eye the app returns easy recipes for you to cook for dinner tonight! Now I wish somebody would engineer an app for doggie lovers to search doggie friendly places nearby!

So before I go off to buy a new environmental-friendly-as-can-be phone this year, I pledge to research diligently phones & manufactures so I can buy with a conscious clear mind & find a recycling site or purpose for my old phone to do my part in today's environmental battle with trash!

Cheers,

You have a lot of talent!

What a busy time of the year, right? Along with all the shopping we’re doing, we’re planning festivities, menus & activities, making travel arrangements, prepping for guests – you name it, around this time of the year we’re all multitasking like crazy! So I am multitasking at home and at work. I am sure I am not alone in this. While multitasking at work isn’t unheard of, I am handling additional tasks while covering for a teammate away on leave. Let me tell you, I am b-u-s-y. So much so, that I hardly find time to write posts for my blog, or even post updates on my Facebook Page! I am busy reviewing resumes day in, day out, scheduling interviews for hiring managers & customer service assessments with candidates & posting & recruiting for new positions! New positions are exciting because it means there’s a new opportunity for a job seeker & we’ve got many out there these days… However, the motivation behind today’s post is the urge to speak about resumes, qualifications & job hopping… There seems to be two types of nurse candidates I’ve seen so far: one with a resume, the other without. The ones without are easy, because they can simply fill out an application & submit it. The ones with resumes are split in two groups: chronological resumes & 'summary' resumes. Chronological resumes are great because the reviewer can gather all skills sets in less than two minutes. Summaries are time consuming & we have to look over a lot of resumes a day.... Red flags are unexplained gaps which isn’t clear to everyone because I still see it in the year of 2010. Any recruiter & hiring manager is going to question the unexplained gaps & most likely will pass on these candidates. Worse is job hoping. Truly, there isn’t anything as bad as job hopping in my opinion. With the exception you are military or your spouse / significant other is. Other than that, even if it sounds like great opportunities continue to present themselves to you, what is your job hoping telling about you as a person? Also, applying for jobs you aren’t qualified for usually never convinces anyone that you can do the job. Unless you’ve got great connections within this company you’re applying for – but then, why would you apply in the first place & not let that person ‘walk-in’ your resume? What about new grads!? I know this is a harsh world out there for you & no one’s really told you so before you signed-up for college & paid all those fees, how gruesome it is. Truth is, any institution is in business for profit. Ask yourself what did you go to school for? There are many ways to help people – long term care, hospice, home health, offices. Aside of full-time employment there are also volunteer opportunities to gain some experience until you can secure a paid job. Key is networking & nothing is easier than networking these days! Social Media gives you plenty of avenues to connect with movers & shakers you ought to know to get ahead! Besides networking, I would suggest to start networking as soon as possible so you’re ahead of the game & in the right spot @ the right time. Some encouraging words I’d like to share for those who are in need are from Aldous Huxley:

"Experience is not what happens to you; it is what you do with what happens to you."

Always remember that you have a lot of talents - be creative!

Now for the holiday season, I am super psyched to be going home this year for Christmas – it’s been over 3 years that I visited my hometown, Germany’s capitol Berlin! Plus I get to spend my first Christmas with my niece, Mia, age 4! The majority of my luggage entails gifts only for her!

Wishing everyone & their loved ones a very Merry Christmas & a happy New Year!

All the best,

Recent facility visits to Englewood Community Hospital & Fawcett Memorial Hospital

Recently accompanied by two co-workers, Emily Giorgi, Recruiter for Quality & Risk Mgmt & Infection Control & Sandra Maiden, Lab recruitment (think Medical Techs, Lab Assistant’s, Phlebotomists, etc.), we took a trip down south to visit Englewood Community Hospital - only 45 minutes south of Sarasota & Fawcett Memorial Hospital, located 1 1/2 hours from Tampa, 3 hours from Miami & less than 3 hours away from Orlando! Bang! Both locations right in the middle of everything! Interestingly enough I avoided these visits in the past because I was unfamiliar with the area & could only think of Hurricane Charley, Jeanne & Francis! Therefore I didn’t know what to expect of the area - in what shape things would be in, especially people's spirits. To say I was pleasantly surprised by its vibrant beauty would be an understatement! I actually fell in love with Englewood! See, I grew up in the city surrounded by all types of constant ‘vibes’ like ambulance sirens 24/7, taxi’s honking, people crowds, etc.. I’ve lived in Germany’s ‘big apple’ for over 20 years & wouldn’t want to miss a day, but wouldn’t move back anytime soon either! Now if I had to live in a city again it could only be in Berlin, my hometown of course - home to 3 1/2 million people & growing every day! However, the way the growing-up-business goes, I came to appreciate a mid-sized city’s buzz, less hectic lifestyles & best of all: more relaxed folks. Sure, Florida tops these perks by their beautiful beaches, palm trees, the Gulf of Mexico, Atlantic Ocean & Caribbean to the south! Really, could you ask for any more?!

Back to my post. So here I was in 18K+ populated beautiful Englewood, Florida & its nearby city Port Charlotte - home to 50K+ people! What stood out the most was the people’s love for their communities! I haven’t seen one damaged building anywhere! Instead, everything was spic & span clean! Quiet? Yes. Golfers? Sure. Jimmy Buffett, eh relaxed atmosphere? You bet! Plus, plenty of new communities popping up all around you featuring top of the line Basketball & Volleyball Courts, cinemas on site, Skateboard & BMX ramps & their own bowling alleys! Crazy, huh? Amazing communities for $170K+/-! However, this post wasn’t supposed to rave up our (still challenging) housing market, but rather give you an idea of all the options you have in Florida! Now you wonder about the two facilities we visited? To sum it up: Englewood Community Hospital - like its community - has a strong family-feel to it. Mom & kids, wife & husband employees – speaks volumes of their employee's dedication! Fawcett Memorial Hospital has been lovingly remodeled with modern furniture throughout & employs dynamically driven employees! Both facilities model their communities well.

I didn’t get a chance to check out the beaches (remember I was there on business after all), but I plan to return soon for a long get away weekend! All in all, the area is worth visiting, if not even moving to – according to a recent poll study, Florida was ranked third most popular state! Come see us & email me to learn of our current nursing career opportunities!

Cheers,

Seasonal Hiring & Fall Housekeeping Tips For Your Safety!

Hi there!

It’s been a busy time for me with seasonal hiring kicking off at HCA’s West Florida Division! During Florida’s ‘winter months’ January – May snowbirds from up north love to come to visit us. In order accommodate our communities as best as we can, we need to staff up in time to be ready! Contracts can vary in length from 6 weeks up to 16 weeks. Perks include housing allowances for those traveling farther than 100 miles to the facilities, shift differentials & end of contract bonus. Hourly rates differ by specialty. To learn more, visit us @ www.moreseasonalcareers.com!

Fall is finally here & I am excited about the cooler temperatures! While our daily highs remain in the 90’s, we Floridian’s are waking up more often to low 70’s & enjoy cooler breezes on our patios and yards at night! Until next time, I’ll leave you with some fall housekeeping tips to ponder:

· Check all window and door locks for proper operation
· Check your home for water leaks
· Review your fire escape plan with your family
· Make sure there are working nightlights at the top and bottom of all stairs
· Have a heating professional check your heating system every year
· Protect your home from frozen pipes
· Replace your furnace filter
· Run all gas-powered lawn equipment until the fuel is gone
· Test your emergency generator
· Have a certified chimney sweep inspect and clean the flues and check your fireplace damper
· Remove bird nests from chimney flues and outdoor electrical fixtures
· Inspect and clean dust from the covers of your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms
· Make sure the caulking around doors and windows is adequate to reduce heat/cooling loss
· Make sure that the caulking around your bathroom fixtures is adequate to prevent water from seeping into the sub-flooring

Cheers,

Healthy Living - Food Shopping

So, were was I? Peru, Asparagus & Food Inc. Well not that I travelled to Peru, ate fresh local grown Asparagus & made a movie about it, no. Quite the opposite. I bought Asparagus to cook in July in Florida & wondered about its "freshness". Then I saw the movie Food Inc. with my husband & our lives were changed. Do you recall the last time something happened that drastically changed your life? Memories like your first kiss might come to mind, your first ride on an air plane, your first car & so on - but it's been a while probably, right? This time around I was shaken up! My eyes were opened to our food industry, enslaved farmers & health risks I don't tend to read or hear about in the news. I realize that everyone has a different view on things & therefore decided not to elaborate on my opinion here, but suggest you see the movie for yourself to make up your mind... After watching the movie, I wished to have seen it with a group of people because it would have been interesting to discuss our opinions afterwards...

What has changed in my life so far, is WHERE I shop & WHAT I buy. For example, I now exclusively shop @ Whole Food stores in the neighborhood to buy local & fair trade foods. I especially like their large selection of bulk whole food items like dried nuts, spices, baking ingredients, grains, etc. Some bulk food stores allow you to bring your own containers & they will weigh the item for you. Great for small amounts & "budget shopping". I also joined a local food co-op of like-minded food enthusiasts who grow, share or sell organic, healthy foods. I spruced up my recent Vegan Ethiopian Spicy Tomato & Lentil stew (see pix) with fresh herbs out of neighbors yards via the co-op! To state that the stew was YUMMY would be an understatement!

Healthy Living posts to be continued...

Cheers,

Healthy Living - Food Education, Part I

Recently I re-discovered the pleasures of cooking. I especially enjoy cooking with fruits & veggies! I love to surprise my hubby with an exotic dish you'd otherwise order @ a fancy restaurant, or perhaps indulge in while on vacation in a dreamy location (braised pork with coconut milk & pineapple, anyone?!). I search & pull recipes of the Internet, try old family secrets & have bought cookbooks of international cuisines I love. Thai & Mexican to be exact. Believe me, there's so much more to Mexican food than Taco's!

When a recipe called for Asparagus the other day, I went to the nearest supermarket & bought some. The label of the package read "Produce From Peru". Hmmmmmmm. Peru is about 2,600 miles away from Florida - by plane. It made me think about what keeps veggies so "fresh & green", especially if they have to travel so far. Asparagus is a traditional spring vegetable & I just bought some in Florida in July... My family's health is very important to me so I embarked on a journey to learn more about where our food comes from & what's in it! First stop, we will finally watch a movie I heard a long time ago: "Food Inc.", Academy Award Nominee "Best Documentary Feature". I'll be sure to report back on our impressions & next steps.

Are you concerned about our food? What are you doing to ensure you are eating a healthy, nutritious diet? Let me hear your thoughts!

Cheers,

Google your life!

A strange thing lead me to write today’s post. Ever felt like you were distracted & are completely detached from your goal(s)? Maybe life, family, work or other problems have a tight grip on you right now & your vision got diluted or worse - you forgot about them! However, this little light continues to flicker in you as long as you live. Sometimes your inner voice gets louder, sometimes it’s off. You know yourself like no one else & know this light inside you is a BIG part of who you are. But you just don’t have the time to tend to your own needs. Then something “bigger” than you reminds you in awkward ways of this little light. Maybe a person with a similar interest enters your life, or your kid (of all people!) shares their dreams with you – dreams you once had, too! You are reminded of something you wanted to do, or try to achieve in life. If we were alert enough to recognize in that moment what is going on, allow our eyes to see, let it re-enter our lives - what would happen?

I hope you are following your dreams, doing what you think you were meant to do. But if you lost sight of your goals or dreams - why not sit down today & make plans how to get back on track? Resources are at our fingertips & readily available 24/7 it seems with the Internet and Social Media. Larry Page & Sergey Brin challenge you to write them if you can’t google it! Go for it!

I dedicate this post to a new found friend who entered my life a few clicks ago on Facebook & reminded me of my goals!

Cheers,

National Frist Humanitarian Awards / HCA Tampa SSC Frist Volunteer Winner

I've been meaning to write about HCA's annual Frist Humanitarian Awards. This program has been in place @ HCA, Inc. since 1971 & has since celebrated every year outstanding employee's humanitarian and/or volunteering efforts. Employees, volunteers and medical staff of HCA can be nominated for their outstanding spirits! The award includes a $5,000 donation to the charity of the recipient’s choice & $5,000 in cash for the employee and volunteer. The medical staff honoree receives a $10,000 donation to the charity of his choice.

From time to time I work out of the Tampa Shared Services Center & have talked with their Volunteer Frist Award winner. I've learned that the winner has been volunteering with Suncoast Hospice since 2003 & while speaking with them, I could sense their strong compassion for helping the community to make this world a better place. Its a lifestyle for them & not a hobby! Currently caring for two Hospice patients and she is also deeply involved with our next generation of leaders: our kids. She volunteers @ local schools & The Children's Home - I imagine she is putting big smiles on a lot of kids faces!

In the future I expect to write follow-up posts on Green Initiatives across our facilities within HCA's West Florida Division & hope to feature more Frist Award Winners for you!

Cheers,

Healthcare Reform Changes / Pre-existing conditions – Victims of Domestic Violence

Not sure how many of us have the chance to dive into politics a bit deeper than what’s covered on the news, but I thought I would write about some upcoming changes for the better that I support. Remember, my posts are my own & do not reflect the thoughts/opinions of HCA, Inc., or HCA West Florida. However, the Healthcare Reform will impact us all, including employees @ HCA, Inc., HCA West Florida – everyone in this country.

I personally know victims of domestic violence within my family, circle of friends & so on… Sad but true. This Affordable Health Care for America Act (HR 3962) will bring change for these victims in the remaining 8 states including DC that are: Idaho, Mississippi, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota & Wyoming who previously had no laws in place & the victims were discriminated against! Soon all victims of domestic violence in the US will be covered by the bill & not excluded via “pre-existing conditions”, but actually granted access to help! According to the White House blog, domestic violence causes 2 million injuries & more than 1200 deaths every year!

If you are interested to learn which insurance companies denied benefits to domestic violence victims in the past, I’d suggest you google it. I am not interested in exploiting the insurance companies, but rather talk about the positive changes the Healthcare Reform will bring about.

So have I overstepped my boundaries by talking about positive Healthcare Reform changes? You tell me! I am here to listen!

Cheers,

Did you know?

Today I want to talk a little about benefits @ HCA West Florida. I used to hold benefits enrollment classes, Q&A sessions for employees & administer the plans in employer’s systems. However, that was a long time ago & for the most time nowadays in my Nurse Sourcer role, I only have to concern myself with my benefits choices during annual enrollment & not so much with advising employees of their options. Though my ears perked up a couple of weeks ago while listening to NPR in the car on my way to get the dog from doggie care (yes, doggie care!). They were discussing the upcoming changes to our Flexible Healthcare Spending accounts starting in 2011. Did you hear about the changes already? If not, I strongly suggest for you to educate yourself & speak with your doctor(s) about the upcoming changes! From the info I gathered thus far, purchasing OTC’s (over-the-counter drugs) with your FSA will be denied unless your doctor has prescribed them. However, I understand not all details have been worked out just yet. Orthodontia, deductibles, co-pays, & eyeglasses remain covered. Thankfully my family and I are not on a lot of drugs (yet); I only need Levothyroxine for my hypothyroid. But I’ve been buying Sinus Headache pills & general allergy meds for my family. And once a year I used to look forward to a new pair of fancy glasses. Now however, I can only purchase reading glasses & no longer sunglasses. I too will have to find out much more about the changes & what exactly will be covered for us starting 2011.

General info on HCA’s West Florida benefits package can be found here. Now don’t let time get away from you & be sure to educate yourself on the FSA changes & how they will affect your family! Be well!

Cheers,

We are hiring @ HCA West Florida!

Back from vacation & equipped with a wealth of knowledge, I am finding myself again in my cube @ work, doing what I do best: sourcing quality nurses! I have to tell you about my vacation, though. I took it upon myself to travel out of state to attend a recruiting event to refresh my skills & to network with like minded professionals. It was my first time attending such an event & I did it because it is my goal to push my career to the next level. To grow professionally & personally. To keep things fresh & interesting. Remember my post about getting stuck & being stagnant? It was then that I set goals for myself! I always wanted to attend such an event but never followed through! Next year I hope to go again, plus attend an even bigger recruiting event!

Reason for my post today is to keep you all motivated as well! While listening to Punk Rock HR blogger's Laurie Ruettmann take on HR's responsibilities in today's times, she struck a cord with me by pointing out HR's opportunity to put current unemployed Americans back to work! With such high unemployment numbers these days I totally agree with her! At HCA West Florida we started a Back to Work Program for nurses who want to return to the workforce after some time off to tend to family needs or personal reasons. The program consists of 120 hours of online course work & paid clinicals. Check it out or let your friends know about it!

Job seekers and workforce returners alike should also take advantage of the great benefits social media offers today! Think outside the box & get creative with your job search: check craigslist, meetup.com & other local resources for networking groups in your area specific to your professional background. Go to their meetings & start networking! Learn something new; shadow someone at work to explore new possibilities & network! Volunteer & network! Update your profile and/or post your skills set, experience & career desires on Facebook! Find your Alumni, ex co-workers, colleges etc. on Facebook & network! Tweet & blog about it too! Savvy recruiters will find you if you know how to market yourself! I know I will! :-)

Current RN's opportunities @ HCA's West Florida Division include, but are not limited to:

Pain Management, Endo, ER, Cath Lab, Wound Care, OR, PCU / Tele, Labor & Delivery.

Cheers,

NurseSourcer's new Facebook Page!

Being without my professional Facebook Profile for a few weeks, it was then that I realized how much I rely on it! I love the easy use of this tool - it almost seems like no technical background is needed for a non-geek like me to fully utilize it in the best way possible: writing status updates in a blink of a moment! Some enjoy posting pictures of the family - pets included (like me), others engage in their numerous games & load applications after applications to add to their leisurely fun! Plus you can access it on the go from almost anywhere in the world! No wonder I felt stagnant, unsuccessful - almost left out! Feeling this way & plotting along from 8 - 5 @ the office, an article in Nursing Spectrum's March edition caught my eye. It talked about how we should always seek change & push ourselves to the next level - only then will we conquer things we didn't think possible! It made me laugh because it was talking directly to me! While I was in transition to my new NurseSourcer Facebook Page, I took back control & explored other means to communicate with the world via Twitter and brushed up on my phone skills, calling job seeking RN's for nursing opportunities for HCA West Florida & their facilities around Orlando, Tampa & Sarasota! If you know the feeling, or happen to get trapped soon, try to look for new opportunities you can conquer, learn something new to brighten your horizon, showcase your special talents to share or teach fellow co-workers, go back to school & finally take the class you were dreading for so long or dreamed of taking one day, study for the certification you need to earn a $1 more a hour, volunteer for a good cause, get involved & embrace the new experience!

On the job front: remember HCA's West Florida Division if you're looking for a change in location, culture, or to advance your skills! I am back online & reachable via said Social Media means on Facebook , Twitter, old fashion email or phone: 727.772.5124!

Cheers,

Green Initiatives @ HCA West Florida / HCA Ranked Top Ethical Company!

I’ve got plenty to talk about today! First & foremost, I'd like to point out that HCA, Inc. has been recognized as one of the world’s most ethical companies according to Ethisphere Institute! This is the very first time HCA receives such designation! Great job to all who work so diligently to provide the best patient care!

Secondly, here’s an update on the Green initiatives across our facilities & Division: for one, all HCA, Inc. employees are now receiving electronic pay stubs! Pay stubs are available to us online the day before payday & we’ll receive email notifications as well – it makes for easy viewing in a timely fashion & saves tons of paper & money, of course!

Electronic health record keeping has been around longer than e-stubs & has a significant green impact as well! I'll continue to research local & nationwide initiatives & be sure to update you on a regular basis!

Here’s an update on Blake’s Green initiatives within their facility: I’ve learned that in addition to their plastic bottle & aluminum can recycling, the facility now installed water filtration systems throughout! For example, their ER used to receive several cases of water per week & nowadays receive none or a very few only! Blake's paramedics are known to consume a lot of water & were given non-disposable water containers by their Marketing department to use instead of bottled water! At catering events, old fashioned water pitchers & glasses are provided instead of anything plastic! All in all, great efforts!

Cheers,

Scrubs, uniforms & work @ HCA West Florida

Historic Nursing Uniforms: the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly - Nursing Link

I enjoyed reading this article on historic nursing uniforms & had to share it! There is a lot of talk going on these days around nursing uniforms @ our facilities. For me, I'd love not having to worry about what I am going to wear for the day! On the other hand, I can't imagine a summer without open toe shoes @ work! The color white has certainly earned it's spot in my opinion, but whereas we're going to adopt a policy on scrub colors by department or to highlight roles within, has yet to be decided. Stay tuned - more to come soon!

Cheers,

Haiti & Growth Opportunities

My teammate Hilary said it best in her post that I don't feel the need to duplicate efforts to spread the news on how HCA is contributing & collecting donations towards this disaster. However, more details have come forth since her post, which I like to share with you as an update: news station WBKO reports that HCA has donated $1M to Haiti! That's awesome news!

2010 has been very challenging for some already, but also proves successful for others. Lots of buzzing going on about the movie Avatar! Have you seen it? I am glad I went despite my hesitation to go see a SciFi movie - just not my cup of tea, I have to admit! Beautiful pictures beyond imagination & familiar story line which doesn't get old but rather reinforces our efforts to gear up & take on our environmental challenges in the world! Speaking of our environment, I'll be sure to follow-up with an update on our Green Initiatives amongst our facilities very soon!

To get back to the subject, a new year bears its own challenges but also brings us hope, right? Similar as the character Jake in Avatar, we are all in charge to bring change to our lives. "Own your career" is another term often times quoted! As the director of the movie, James Cameron, envisioned the movie 15 years ago & didn't get any support, the movie is quickly becoming one of the best selling movies in cinema history!

The same can be true for you! Spring presents itself as one of the best times of the year for career advancement! Browsing the Internet I can't help but notice the spike in job postings! Within our Division too, we've got some alluring career opportunities posted for the driven nurse, ready for the next challenge! Lots of great opportunities out there to grow beyond your imagination & expectations! Set the bar high for yourself for 2010 & see where it will take you!

Cheers,

Happy New Year from Nurse Sourcer!

Reflecting back on 2009, I have been pondering my greatest accomplishment for this year! My volunteering @ the local Hospice? Moving into a much bigger, nicer place for less money? Gratefulness to have a job in today's economy? I had to realize how blessed I have been this year & recently learned that awareness is the key to future success! For example, yesterday I was able to help a friend in need & drove her to the closest ER to get her the care she needed to get better. I did not only wish for a nationwide ER Wait Time text number initiative, but realized there's no turning back on our recent technology advancement for mobile ER Wait Times! You now can get current average ER Wait Times for HCA facilities by texting "ER" to 23000. You will receive an instant text back requesting your zip code & within seconds you'll know the times of the closest facilities nearby! Times & hospitals are listed in distance & the text also provides you with a toll-free number to call a Nurse! I hope it won't be long until hospitals nationwide will follow suit to provide better care for our people! What a relief this yields to learn of the wait times in surrounding ERs! You can make better choices of where to take your loved one(s) to receive the quickest care possible!

In hindsight, I look forward to our future as we strive to make things better for all of us - in any arena! Happy New Year to all!

Cheers,

Continuing the trend @ HCA!

As Maddux reported yesterday, Community Hospital (The Future Medical Center of Trinity), Oak Hill Hospital & Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point followed suit with device friendly websites! More great news to celebrate!

More new technology @ HCA West Florida!

To stay ahead of the curve, South Bay Hospital's website has been configured for easy viewing on mobile devices! For all of us on the go using Ipods, Blackberry's & the like, your mobile device will be automatically redirected to the formatted site to access important info like ER wait times, phone directory, maps & directions! Consumers will continue to log on to the same site @ http://www.southbayhospital.com/! I wonder what we'll think of next to foster better patient care!

Cheers,

Voted best place to work in healthcare!

We're immensely proud of Doctor's Hospital of Sarasota's achievement being nominated as one of the best places to work at by Modern Healthcare! RNs interested in working for us @ this facility might appreciate to learn of the following openings:

PT RN Case Manager
RN Emergency Services 7a - 7p
RN Emergency Services 9a - 9p
RN ICU 7a - 7p
RN ICU 7p - 7a PT
RN Med/Surg 7a - 7p
RN Med/Surg 7p - 7a
RN PCU 7a - 7p

To see the full list, visit this link.

More shifts. More money. More Refreshing.

Our Division is busily recruiting for the upcoming season: January - May 2010 for several locations! We're still looking for interested RNs with active Florida licenses for the following departments:

M/S
Tele
PCU
ICU, general & neuro
MICU
CCU
PACU
CSU

Facilities with openings are located in Brooksville, Brandon, St. Petersburg, Bradenton, Sarasota, Englewood & Port Charlotte. We pay hourly flat rates according to specialty throughout all facilities, plus shift diffs.

- Contract agreements for 6, 8, 10, 12, 14 & 16 weeks
- Prorated end of contract bonus according to contract length
- Housing allowances of $250 per pay period for candidates travelling further than 100 miles
- RN hourly rates as follows: M/S $37.00, Tele/PCU $38.00, Critical Care $39.00

Applications can be submitted online @ http://moreseasonalcareers.com/. Come join us!

Cheers,

Nominate an HCA nurse!

Nurse.com is collecting nominations for the best RNs in our country! If you know of an RN who stands out & deserves this type of recognition, hurry & nominate them on/or before 12/19/09 @ http://www.nurse.com/nursingexcellence/. Categories for nominations are as follows:

Advancing & Leading the Profession
Clinical Care
Community Service
Management
Mentoring
Teaching

If anyone plans on nominating an HCA RN, please let me know! I'd love to hear & write about it!

Cheers,

Trauma Center Application & Nurse Lead Recruiter Introduction

I am as excited as everyone else is in our Division since we learned of the latest news! Today's post has been penned by our Nurse Lead Recruiter, Richard Moore, who recruits for our Nursing management opportunities. Currently Rich is looking to fill a Director Critical Care @ BRH; Nurse Manager Surgical Services @ BRH; Nursing Supervisor / House Admin @ ECH, and in the near future two VP Trauma Program opportunities for RMCBP & Blake.

Here's Rich's post:

HCA West Florida to apply for Level II Trauma Center designation!

Two facilities of HCA West Florida are excited to begin the process of application for Level II Trauma Center status. Both facilities are located in Trauma Service Areas with no current Trauma Centers. We look forward to taking our services to the high level required for Trauma Center designation. Becoming a Trauma Center requires the dedication of the entire hospital and staff from transporting the patients to the trauma surgeons. The trauma team will encompass most departments including Emergency, Surgical Services, Critical Care, Laboratory, Radiology and Social Services. To drive the application process we are seeking two Vice Presidents of Trauma. We are extremely proud to be taking this major step in serving our communities.

Great news!

Cheers,

For your safety!

Love HCA's new ER wait time billboards with actual wait times which are now up for Osceola Regional Medical Center & Central Florida Regional Hospital! I believe boards for Northside Hospital, Largo Medical Center, St. Petersburg General Hospital, Doctor's Hospital of Sarasota & Fawcett Memorial Hospital are planned to go up this Sunday!

Blake Medical Center’s Go Green Initiatives!

As promised, here’s an update on our “Go Green” initiatives among our facilities in & around the Tampa Bay area! I have learned about the following initiatives @ Blake which is a licensed 383-bed acute care facility, located in Bradenton, Florida:

- Plastic bottle & aluminium can recycling: containers are placed throughout the facility.

- Newspaper recycling: containers will be placed throughout the facility.

- Cardboard box recycling: easy on site access to a baler that crushes boxes.

- Paper recycling: Shred-It boxes placed throughout facility.

- No more Styrofoam cups or to-go containers avail in cafeteria; Coffee mugs were given as gifts instead & plastic wrap is readily avail to employees.

- Carpooling program promotion: reserved prime parking spots for carpoolers is under consideration.

- Battery recycling: designated drop-off location avail in facility.

- Print cartridge recycling: Supply department collects & recycles used print cartridges.

- Energy conservation: discussion underway to promote awareness to turn off lights in areas when not in use i.e. bathrooms, offices, etc.

- Green ideas: prime parking spot for employees to honor NEW Go Green ideas!

Go Blake! I am stunned to learn that Blake has more in place already than our Division office! I plan on bringing this subject to the table @ a future newly appointed EAG – Employee Advisory Group – meeting! Stay tuned for more info about our other facilities Go Green ideas. Be sure to visit again soon!

Cheers,

'09 Healthcare Finalist Announcement!

Join me in congratulating Lolita "Lola" Pollack for making it to the Finalists for Tampa Bay Business Journal's Health Care Heroes awards for category "Hospital/Medical Professional". Lola works @ HCA's Community Hospital (The Future Medical Center of Trinity). We are cheering for you, Lola!

Going Green @ HCA!

It's always good to learn that the company you work for shares some of the same interests as you. While one doesn't have to agree with all the politics a company practices, it is encouraging to learn of all the good a company does do. I am in the midst of collecting "go green" initiatives that are going on throughout our local facilities when I learned that HCA has decided to partner with Practice Greenhealth. I will keep an eye out on the initiatives HCA will implement & expand to foster sustainable, eco-friendly practices such as reducing water & energy costs, as well as alternatives for waste disposal. I hope to soon post an update about our facilities "go green" initiatives for you to read.

Cheers,

Strong growth opportunities @ HCA!

According to Tampa Bay Business Journal, our Division is currently doing very well. We're glad to hear it & hope you'll check us out as your next possible employer! Read the article below or online.

"Net income at HCA Inc. doubled during the second quarter, driven by gains in patient volume and expense controls.

The Nashville, Tenn.-based health care company said net income for the three months ended June 30 was $282 million, compared to $141 million in the second quarter of 2008.

Revenue for the second quarter of 2009 was $7.5 billion, compared to $7 billion in the year-ago period, the privately held company said in a release.

The Tampa market was among seven markets singled out by Richard Bracken, president and chief executive, as showing particularly strong earnings performance in the just-ended quarter. In a conference call, Bracken also cited Houston, Dallas, Kansas City, San Jose, Calif., and Austin and San Antonio, Texas. He did not break out earnings for each market.

Overall, volume growth in the second quarter was better experienced in recent periods, Bracken said. Same facility admissions increased 1.9 percent and same facility equivalent admissions increased 4.4 percent in the second quarter of 2009, compared to the prior year’s second quarter.

Expenses such as salaries and supplies declined 2.9 percent as a percent of total revenue quarter over quarter.

Bracken said he remained concerned about the effect of the economy on employment levels and the impact of that on HCA’s uninsured or underinsured patient volumes.

Same facility uninsured admissions increased 10.4 percent in the second quarter of 2009 compared to the prior year, and same facility charity care and uninsured discounts total $1.16 billion in the second quarter of 2009, compared to $846 million in the second quarter of 2008.

Separately, HCA said in a release that it planned to sell $750 million in senior secured first lien notes with the proceeds from the offering used to repay term loans under the company’s cash flow credit facility.

HCA operated 163 hospitals and 105 freestanding surgery centers as of June 30. The company is one of the largest hospital owners in the Tampa Bay area. Its West Florida division, based in Palm Harbor, includes 15 hospitals, 17 ambulatory surgery centers, numerous diagnostic imaging facilities and occupational health sites, and a regional lab."

Cheers,

How to become a CNO @ HCA!

The CNO Development Program is a great opportunity for nurses to expand their career as a Chief Nursing Officer. The CNO Development Program will select and offer training and work experience in both the corporate and hospital setting for "Associate Chief Nursing Officers" who are the brightest aspiring Charge Nurses, Nurse Managers, Nurse Supervisors, and/or Nurse Directors.

The Associate Chief Nursing Officer (ACNO) will be assigned to a CNO mentor who will help guide their development into a superior healthcare leader. The ACNO development is also supported by targeted work assignments and seminars offered at the corporate office. The goal of the CNO Development Program is to equip nurses with executive leadership skills the role of CNO within an HCA facility.

Areas of focus and Program outline includes:
Orientation/Mentor/Leadership Seminar
Quality, Safety, Legal Seminars
American Organization of Nurse Executive Meeting & Exposition
Planning/CAMS Seminar
Critical Thinking/Budget Seminar
Executive Development Leadership Seminar
HR, Legal and Regulatory Seminar
Transitional Role seminar

Program Requirements:
Currently hold an active registered nurse license in the United States or Territories
Bachelors of Science in Nursing or higher, with an understanding that enrollment (not completion) into a Masters of a Health Science or Business program will be required before program completion.

Minimum of 5 years leadership and management experience in nursing and hospital operations. Most recent 3 of the last 5 years of leadership must have been in a direct leadership role in a hospital setting or direct patient care environment
Geographic Flexibility-must be willing to relocate to fulfill commitment of a CNO role

Program Duration:
· 12-18 month commitment to program; - Depending on background, experience, and mentor assessment.

Application Process:
· Applications are being accepted June 15, 2006 through July 21, 2006. In lieu of reference letters, leadership assessment forms will be emailed to all qualified applicant references/supervisors. One leadership assessment reference must be a Chief Nursing Officer. Formal interviews for the CNO Development Program will be held in September 2006.
· To apply click here.

Discounted college tuition 4 HCA employees!

Today I learned about the tuition discount Western Governors University offers us HCA employees! From what I gathered, they'll waive the application fee of $65 & give a 10% discount on their tuition rates. Apparently you pay for "terms" versus credit hours. Bachelor's & Master's programs in IT, Accounting, Finance, HR, Marketing, Business & Healthcare (Nursing, Informatics, Education, Leadership) are available. Be sure to visit their website for more information!

Back to Nursing Program expands!

I am pleased to inform all retired RNs who wish to return back to work & are willing to undergo a refresher phase, that HCA's West Florida Division Back to Nursing program has been extended to Hillsborough, Pinellas & Pasco Counties! More info can be obtained online at: http://www.morecareerchoices.com/BackToNursing.aspx! Let us help you get back to work! Contact us today! We're looking forward to hear from you!

Cheers,

Healthcare Career Outlook

During a recent job-shadowing event at work, we all got a glimpse of what others do around us! I was fortunate enough to shadow an HR Generalist in one of our facilities. While I’ve handled HR Generalist duties in the past before, one of her main priorities is employee satisfaction! I on the other hand dealt more with employee issues vs. employee retention strategies! Her personal favorite seemed to be career coaching in that she strongly encouraged staff to continue their education & research the technical aspect & needs of hospitals for their (career) future. Needles to say I was impressed! Today I read up on U.S. News’ annual Ahead-of-the-Curve Careers 2008 & 2009 reports & wasn’t surprised to find healthcare way on top & second the HR Generalist theory! While there are lots of reasons to be pessimistic these days, I hope we’ll soon see a change!

Cheers,

How to become a Case Manager @ HCA!

Advance featured Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point’s case management team in their recent issue. Our case managers evaluate pts within 24 hours of admission & assess their “preadmission level of function, incl. activities of daily living & compliance with taking medication”. “After initial pt evaluation, case management RNs develop a plan most conductive to a pts well-being & their discharge, whether it is to home, a SNF, rehab facility or hospice. To read the full article, be sure to pick-up Advance Vol. 10# 13.

However, one thing not mentioned in their article is our manager’s willingness to train experienced Medical/Surgical RNs for Case Management! If you have solid three years of med/surg experience under your belt, a stable work history & have an interest in case management, keep HCA in mind for this opportunity to grow & contact me asap!

Cheers,

Easy online ER wait times for HCA's hospitals!

HCA's West Florida Division received great coverage from local media regarding their ER wait times. If you didn't know already, the majority of our hospitals offer ER wait times online & via text messages! For the nearest ER & their wait times, text "ER" to 23000, or visit the respective facility online @ HCA!

To read more about the news coverage, please visit TBO & Channel 10.

Cheers,

Benefits at HCA West Florida!

We’re told that it is taboo to ask “the” question before an offer has been extended in our job hunt for the next prospective employer. Human curiosity, however, wants to know right away, as soon as possible if the prospective new employer offers a benefits package that fits our lifestyle & more importantly our needs! So let me spill the beans for you on HCA West Florida! For me it is a given for an employer to offer the following: PTO = personal time off either to include sick days or under a separate policy, tuition reimbursement, LTD & STD, health-, dental & vision plans, Life & AD&D insurance, certain dependant benefits & insurance coverage up to pets insurance, flexible spending account, Employee Assistance Program, 401K or 503B Plans.

In today’s world, however, these might or might not be a given everywhere. Thankfully @ HCA West Florida they are! Policies @ our facilities might only differ slightly. Because my expectations might differ from yours, the true benefits @ HCA for me are:

- The wide network of the company across the US;
- The career opportunities I can explore within this large network!

I don’t foresee to move outside of Florida anytime soon, but I could do so & stay with the company if I choose to! To me the network is the greatest benefit @ HCA! If you have any further questions, let me know - I am here!



PS. I learned about the signature on Jess' blog & love it, don't you? Cool tool!

World No Tobacco Day, 31 May 2009

I've quit for the second time 7 weeks ago! The last time I’ve managed 11 years without - after smoking for 13 years! This time around I vouch to distract myself in other, healthier ways when I get stressed etc. vs. picking-up a cigarette ever again!

I always enjoyed *smoking*, but never the taste of cigarettes afterwards – hence my preference for menthol cigarettes! At first I had to remind myself of why I wanted to quit over & over again, but within a few weeks it’s gotten less & less that I think about lighting one up again. I actually stopped thinking about smoking on a daily basis after around three weeks! I quit cold-turkey only because I am too stingy to spend more money on this old habit of mine, plus I am strong-willed!

But I know that not everybody can just quit like that! The happier I am about the FREE program I've learned about sponsored by local government to help smokers quit their habits once & for all! You can call the Quitline 24/7 @ 1-877-U-CAN-NOW (877-822-6669) to learn more about their services & free resources, i.e.:

- Counseling sessions
- Self help materials (free patches etc.!)
- Counseling & materials
- Pharmacotherapy assistance

In support of World No Tobacco Day, sponsored by WHO (World Health Organization), I wanted to post about our local resources & hope it can help you to achieve your goals & nip this *stinking* habit! Good luck!

Judge Hatchett

Did you know that Judge Hatchet serves on the board of directors at HCA?

She was named Woman of the Year by the national organization 100 Black Men of America & one of the 10 Women Distinction by the Girl Scouts of America! Judge Hatchett will visit the Tampa Bay area to deliver the keynote address for the upcoming 31st Annual Equal Opportunity Day Banquet on May 21 in St. Petersburg hosted by the Pinellas County Urban League. To read more about the event & Judge Hatchett's bio, please visit this link.

Return to Work Program featured in St. Pete Times!

We are thrilled about our teammate Patty Ehrenfeld's recent interview by St. Peterburg Times. She got a chance to speak out about our Back to Nursing Program we offer @ Blake Medical Center for RNs who haven't been working for awhile & want to re-enter the job market. We are looking to expand this program within our West Florida Division @ Brandon Regional Medical Center & hopefully other facilities in the near future as well. I'll be sure to post a follow-up as soon as more information is avail.

Fortune 500 / CNN Money Article

In today's economy it isn't easy finding companies still hiring despite the struggles many seem to face. That's why I was pleased to read HCA is listed in Fortune 500's article on CNNMoney.com to still be hiring. It is true that within our West Florida Division we are seeking experienced RNs to support our teams amongst our 16 facilities. Especially our critical care teams seem in need of more RNs. Our Nurse Lead currently is trying to fill several Director positions: ED, Neuro/PCU, Surgical/Ortho/Rehab, Critical Care. Experienced acute care Case Managers are also needed for Brandon, New Port Richey, Sanford, Hudson, Largo. To see a list of all our current career opportunities, please visit us online at www.morecareerchoices.com.

Western Governors University to Launch Nation's First Competency-Based B.S. in Nursing Leading to RN Licensure

I was wowed reading below article on referenced pilot. Glad my company is participating & am hoping for it to be successful & hopefully being offered soon nationwide. Read on & happy Easter!

SALT LAKE CITY, April 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Last year, more than50,000 applicants to nursing schools were turned away, despite a nationwide shortage of registered nurses. To address this crisis in U.S. healthcare, Western Governors University, www.wgu.edu, has joined with state workforce agencies as well as healthcare institutions to develop the first national, accredited, online competency-based bachelor's degree program aimed at preparing students for initial licensure as registered nurses.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20081030/DC42901LOGO)

The program, which is called the Multi-State Approach to the Preparation of Registered Nurses, or MAP-RN, received unanimous approval by the California Board of Registered Nursing earlier this month, and the pilot program is slated to begin in July at three Southern California hospitals. This innovative program combines WGU's online, competency-based academic approach with intensive clinical simulations and clinical practice at partner hospitals supervised by onsite clinical coaches serving as WGU adjunct faculty.This innovative new approach to nursing education is a partnership among WGU, the Governor's Task Force for the California Nurse Education Initiative Workforce and Labor Development Agency, The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the U.S. Department of Labor, the Texas Workforce and Labor Development Agency, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Catholic Healthcare West, Hospital Corporation of America, Kaiser Permanente,Tenet Healthcare, and Universal Health Services. For more information regarding this program, go to www.wgu.edu/rn."This partnership is a great example of our healthcare providers,educators, and the state working together to alleviate our nursing shortage and get more Californians to work," said California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. "This new competency-based program is a win-win for California by making nursing programs more accessible to people interested in pursuing this career path and helping to fill critically needed jobs throughout the state." (To read the release issued by the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency, go tohttp://www.labor.ca.gov/pdf/nwsrel09-08.pdf.)"Prospective nurses will now have access to a high quality degree program that will enable them to earn a B.S. and prepare for their RN license flexibly and affordably," said WGU President Robert Mendenhall."The B.S. in Nursing leading to initial licensure program complements WGU's other bachelor's and master's degree nursing programs for already-licensed RNs and supports our mission to provide educational opportunities and degree programs to meet the needs of underserved populations and employers with critical workforce needs."About Western Governors University (WGU)"[WGU is] the best relatively cheap university you've never heard of."- TIME magazine (Nov. 2008)WGU is the only accredited online university in the U.S. offering competency-based degree programs. The private non-profit university has been a leader in online education for more than 10 years. WGU is the recipient of the USDLA 21st Century Award for Best Practices in Distance Learning for 2008, awarded in recognition of WGU's success in expanding access to higher education. WGU has been honored as one of the 2008 Top 20Military Friendly College sand Universities by Military Advanced Education magazine. WGU sponsors the Online Student Survival Guide, a blog that addresses many of the questions and daily concerns online students from any online college or university face.Now serving more than 12,000 students, WGU was founded by 19 U.S.governors, and is supported by more than 20 leading corporations and foundations. They include institutions such as AT&T, Bearing Point,Dell, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Hewlett-Packard, HCA,Microsoft, Oracle, Qwest, SunGard Higher Education, Sun Microsystems,and Zions Bank. WGU offers bachelor's and master's degrees in business,information technology, teacher education, and health professions, with students in all 50 states. More information is available atwww.wgu.edu.Contact for enrollment information:866-225-5948Contact for media inquiries: Joan Mitchell - Director of PR801-428-5463jmitchell@wgu.edu SOURCE Western Governors University

Article copied from http://www.itnewsonline.com/showprnstory.php?storyid=40651

Blake's Return to work RN Program

Just stumbled across an online article about our return to work program Blake's spearheading for our Division. To read the full article, please visit nursezone.com's website.

Where we work

Just read & love the article on HCA West Florida's West Division in "Advances for Nurses" Volume 10 issue. In it Linda Carter, VP of HCA West Florida's ortho & spine division, speaks to the success of her departments. Therefore & I am sure not only within these departments, our RNs are encouraged to function & carry many hats to enhance patient care, i.e. bedside education & support for families, GNs mentor ship, cross training & trust amongst each other, including surgeons & other staff within the facilities. She reinforced that we all play a key role in patients healing progress & I believe this is true in any setting: we all can positively impact the outcome.

HCA Named RN Employee of the Year!

Nursing Spectrum kindly posted a picture of our Nurse of the year, Shae Jungkans, along a brief article. Shae has been a committed HCA employee since 1993 & continues to work at our Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point in special care. This advanced certified life support RN receives many letters of commendation from patients & acts as a preceptor to new employees & mentors her peers. Congratulations Shae!

Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point is home to the nationally recognized Heart Institute and has served Florida's Gulf Coast for the last 25 years. Our passion and commitment are reflected in the ongoing recognition our hospital has received. Among notable credits, we've been named one of "America's Best Hospitals" in Heart and Heart Surgery by U.S. News & World Report, named a "Top 100" hospital seven times according to the HCIA/Solucient, accredited with commendation by the JCAHO, and been ranked a "Top 100" cardiovascular hospital five times according to Solucient. In 2006, we received the annual performance achievement award, "Get with theGuidelines Coronary Artery Disease" from theAmerican Heart Association. With 290 beds, we offer a spectrum of services seldom found in a small community setting. In addition to our acclaimed Heart Institute, some of our most interesting specialties include:

Accredited Chest Pain Center
JCAHO Stroke Program
Cancer Care Center
Neurosurgical Services
Advanced Same-Day Surgery
Regional Infusion Center
Wound Care
Accredited Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment Program
Regional Center For Orthopedics & Surgical Services

While we bring state-of-the-art care to Florida's Suncoast, we're also sensitive to your personal aspirations. That's why we're proud to provide a convenient, suburban Gulf Coast location just 45 minutes from the city of Tampa.

Free Continued Education Credit from HCA West Florida!

Great news! Our Division sponsors a free self-study CE course "Safe Labeling Helps Prevent OR Errors" until April 30, 2009! Hurry on up & complete this free 1.0 hour course on Nurse.com's website!

HCA Commit $470K for FIU's Tampa Foreign MD-RN Program

I just learned that our Largo Medical Center generously supports Florida International Business University's Foreign Educated Physician to Nursing Program (FEPN)! HCA West Florida recognizes the states nursing shortage & is actively supporting this program which was launched in Miami 2002. This 5-semester program transforms foreign educated doctors into nurses through live videoconferencing classroom sessions! According to FIU’s online article, HCA contributes $11,000 per student in scholarship assistance. To read the full article, please visit the following link: http://news.fiu.edu/?p=1714.

Clean Hands Are Cool Hands

HCA is gaining great recognition for its nationwide “Clean Hands Are Cool Hands” campaign! Recently, HCA sponsored an event in Miami with a co-star of the very popular show Hannah Montana, Oliver. I am not familiar with the show but pleased to read about HCA’s successful campaign. A website was also designed to promote hygiene to elementary kids; feel free to visit & read more at http://www.cleanhandsarecoolhands.com/index.html.

CyberKnife @ BRH Article

A great article including this picture on Brandon's Cyberknife technology & treatments was posted this morning on Brandon News & Tribune. To read the full article, please visit them online at: http://brandonnews2.tbo.com/content/2009/jan/21/br-new-help-in-fight-against-cancer/news/

Happy New Year!

Christmas came & went & I sincerely hope you enjoyed some quality time-off with friends & family!

Facing the next festivity & a new year, certainly lots of people have New Years Resolutions on their minds… I have never been known to set any goals but with today’s economy & our ever growing environmental issues, I finally researched recycling methods, centers & alternatives in my area to START getting involved asap & contribute to the change we need!

I started carrying totes for shopping (anything, not just groceries!) to avoid collecting plastic bags and I have been recycling cell phones, clothes (Goodwill) & even cars (Kars4kids.org, for example). I knew that the Wal-Mart by me has several recycling bins for papers & plastics but I was really interested to learn of light bulb & metal clothe hanger (cleaners!) recycling opportunities near me. Having bookmarked Earth911's website, I pledge to buy eco-friendly containers – if I can’t recycle anything in my current possession - & start recycling my everyday household items like glass, paper, magazines, light bulbs IF I can’t buy without or BE without! In addition to recycling items I’ve bought, my other New Years Resolution is to buy less & rather re-cycle items I already own... Paint them, change them, re-decorate & re-arrange. A little color goes a long way, they say.

Wishing you & your loved ones a healthy, happy & prosperous New Year!

Fawcett launches PACS Network

In times where technology advances further & further into our lives, it is also vastly progressing into healthcare. Our 238-bed Fawcett Memorial Hospital in Port Charlotte recently launched its first picture archiving & communication system (PACS). These computers & networks are dedicated to the storage, retrieval, distribution & presentation of digital radiological images. This system allows fast access & sharing of patient information & will offer physicians secure online access to these records in the near future. Hopefully only a matter of time until our remaining facilities are equipped equally.

Northside received Organ Donation Medal

Since I have decided to become a donor myself, I was pleased to read about our 288-bed Northside Hospital & Tampa Bay Heart Institute's latest recognition! Advance for Nurses writes in their No. 27 December issue that Northside was recognized earlier this month by the Department of Health and Human Services.

If you ever wondered about the Organ Donor Program in the State of Florida, you may obtain more information on www.myflorida.com. It's a simple process of completing one form which has to be witnessed in order to SAVE lives! According to United Network For Organ Sharing, currently there are 100,839 people on the waiting list for donations - 20,951 transplantations took place between January & September 2008 - 10,610 donors registered between January & September this year alone! Educate yourself & become one of the registered donors we desperately need TODAY!

150th CyberKnife System Installed Worldwide

Accuray Incorporated (NASDAQ:ARAY) , a global leader in the field of radiosurgery, announced today that 150 CyberKnife(R) Robotic Radiosurgery Systems now have been installed worldwide. This milestone was achieved when Hospital Corporation of America (HCA), a leading healthcare services company, installed a CyberKnife System in collaboration with consultant clinician partners at The Harley Street Clinic in London. HCA’s addition of this CyberKnife System marks the installation of its seventh system companywide, including its first outside the United States.

To read the full story, please visit the following site: http://www.health-plan-news.com/health-plans/150th-cyberknife-system-installed-worldwide\.

Grandfather Critical After Pushing Newborn To Safety

My prayers are with James Lewin's family who suffered severe injuries saving his granddaughter from getting hit by a car & who is being treated at one of our HCA facilities in Denver. The story was posted on www.cnn.com today & reads as follows:

DENVER -- A grandfather remained in critical condition Thursday after police said he sacrificed himself to save his newborn granddaughter.
James Lewin, 65, was out Friday night walking with his wife, two grandchildren, his daughter and her husband. They were heading home after the annual Candlelight Walk and Tree Lighting ceremony in downtown Littleton.
Lewin was pushing his 12-day-old granddaughter, Sara, in a stroller. They were entering a crosswalk at South Price Street and West Church Avenue when a Dodge pickup truck turned from Prince Street onto Church Avenue and hit Lewin, police said.

Read the full article at: http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/18198838/detail.html.

To keep abreast on Jim's status, please visit the family's blog often: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/jimlewin.

Selah Sail

I was personally touched by cancer as so many others have too, unfortunately. It struck my family first almost 20 years ago when my grandmother was diagnosed with colon cancer. Then she was strong & determined, underwent all types of treatments & lived 16 years cancer-free! We were so proud of her we almost forgot she ever had it – it seemed so long ago. Then, Christmas four years ago, it came back. Full throttle at that & with no chance for my mid-70’s ailing grandmother to stand a chance. We lost her Valentines Day 2005.

One of my girlfriends battled breast cancer 8 years ago & so far has successfully defeated it. I’ll keep her in my prayers daily & hope the best for her.

As for those of you battling the disease or those affected by it, I hope we all find comfort in some sort of way to stay strong & fight together for a cure! Many of us are organizing fundraisers, volunteer their heart out &/or make their voices heard by educating the nation!

One great retreat I read about, I’d like to share with my readers. Selah Sail was found by Jann Churchill, an RN, who was diagnosed with breast cancer & who enjoys to sail. "Selah" is a Hebrew word that means "to pause and reflect". Jann found this non-profit organization who’s mission it is to offer other women to “pause & reflect” after their treatment. Please read more on their website at: http://www.selahsail.org/index.htm.

Thomas Frist to retire & son to take over his seat

As reported by the Tenneseean yesterday, the second generation of the founding Frist family of HCA - Hospital Corporation of America is retiring. Thomas F. Frist, Jr., M.D. is said to leave the boards January 1, 2009 and turning his seat over to his son William R. Frist. Another Frist son, Thomas Frist III also is a board member. More info to come once published.

California Board of Registered Nursing voted in favor of requiring all licensed nurses to submit fingerprints

I have been following this story ever since the LA Times published the article "Criminal past is no bar to nursing in California". Now, the CA Board of Registered Nursing has passed this new regulation for all RNs to be fingerprinted - even for renewals RNs have to submit fingerprints now. Read the full article at the following website: http://www.medicalcareersite.com/2008/10/california-board-of-registered-nursing.html

HCA’s Medical Center of Trinity moves into next building phase

Community Hospital said steel has arrived for the construction of the Medical Center of Trinity, a facility expected to replace Community Hospital in two years.

Construction work using the steel is expected to be complete in about 18 weeks. The steel cost $10 million, a release said.

The $195 million Medical Center of Trinity will be a 236-bed, private room facility at the corner of State Road 54 and Little Road. It’s expected to open in late 2010.

The first stage of parking lot construction and the first floor concrete slab have been completed, while a turn lane on State Road 54 is nearing completion, the release said.

Construction of a medical office building adjacent to the hospital is expected to start in the first quarter of 2009.

Community Hospital in New Port Richey and the new Medical Center of Trinity are part of HCA's West Florida division.

Article posted by Tampa Bay Business Journal.

TBBJ’s Health Care Heroes finalists named!

Congratulations are also in order for Terrie Jefferson, RN, CNO at our 112-bed South Bay Hospital, who was named finalist in the category of Medical Professional - Non-Physician by the "Tampa Bay Business Journal"! A list of all finalists can be viewed at http://tampabay.bizjournals.com/tampabay/stories/2008/08/18/daily51.html. South Bay's efforts to honor Terrie can be viewed at their website: http://www.southbayhospital.com/CustomPage.asp?guidCustomContentID={E0009ED0-2C0E-471F-A44F-29E8E896D304}.

Congratulations!

Congratulations to Susan Laber, MHA, BSN, RN, CHCQM for her promotion & transfer to Brandon Regional Hospital's new Chief Nursing Officer role! I am proud that HCA grows their leadership from within & sets examples for future RNs & their career paths. To learn more about Susan, please read the full article at http://www.brandonhospital.com/CustomPage.asp?guidCustomContentID=%7B59241FFA-17EF-4F43-8BD4-850E398BA562%7D.

International Recruitment Efforts @ HCA

For international nurses interested in working in the US, we offer assistance with immigration & placement needs. Our third party vendor All About Staffing offers free Visa processing & passage to the US as well as no placement immigration or attorney fees! Their International Recruitment Program is primarily aimed to hire Nursing Professionals for their direct placement to HCA facilities in US. Applicants who have passed CGFNS/IELTS or Licensure (NCLEX-RN) exam/IELTS are preferred. Applicants from China & Taiwan are also encouraged to apply. They offer competitive salaries and range of other benefits including arranging US Licensure exam entirely at their costs. Full Time Positions with excellent hourly pay. Relocation Incentives. Housing Assistance. Education and Licensure support. Health/Disability Benefits. Dental Insurance. Life Insurance. To read more about their program, please visit their website directly at www.allaboutstaffing.com.

Nurse creates keepsakes for families of stillborn babies

Below article honorably describes Laurie Van Damme's unique memorial gift idea for grieving parents of stillborns. Knowing affected families myself, I am delighted to promote Laurie’s work Healing Hearts Media here on my blog to share with my readers & for future reference. Please read on:

"Pastel colors cover the walls. Babies gurgle and cry. Parents coo and cradle them for the first time. Lives begin in the labor and delivery unit at Brandon Regional Hospital. • But in a storage room down the hall, it is quiet. There are bins stuffed with bonnets and booties, plastic bottles with "Holy Water" labels, doll clothes in pale shades of pink and blue. • This is where Laurie Van Damme goes when a baby dies. • Today the baby has a name. He is 15 ounces and 10½ inches. He died after 20 weeks in his mother's womb. Today he will wear blue. He will lie beside a blanket. He will hold a rattle in his hand. • The beeping of Van Damme's digital camera will be the only sound in the room."

To read the full article, please visit St. Petersburg Times online.